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Page 357
Chapter Eighteen
Alinor did not know whether she wanted to kill or kiss Lady Ela. She never saw the last pass of tilting that overthrew Fulk and won Ian the rich prize the king had offered. Quite suddenly, when that pass had started, Lady Ela had cried out, "I am shivering! I am shivering!" Alinor's eyes had been drawn to the sharp sound involuntarily, and when she looked back toward the men, there was a maid standing right in front of her, blocking her view of the field while she rubbed Lady Ela's hands. By the time Alinor had shoved the maid aside, it was all over.
At least Alinor had no doubt, even momentarily, about what the outcome was. The roars of approval from the loges would never have been uttered for Fulk, nor, even if the man had been well-loved instead of well-hated, would they have been uttered for a fresh challenger who overthrew a much tried and overworn jouster. Besides, among the roars, she heard one angry mutter that the "stinking, slimy snake had what he deserved for so scurvy a trick." Alinor realized that Fulk had tried some device of which the noblemen disapproved. If Ela had known of that through some rumor, she had done what she could to save Alinor from seeing her husband struck down. She had also saved Alinor from displaying any overviolent pleasure in the outcome and thereby exacerbating the royal temper even more.
The latter problem was eliminated when Geoffrey came tearing across the field to summon Lady Alinor to her husband's assistance.

 
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